2003 founded Hollow
messaging · skype.com
Skype
lights on, nobody home
23 years 19 days and counting
Estonia, 2003. The call that taught the world to call a computer. The lights are on.
Why it lasted
- The username graph of the 2000s still has grandparents on it.
- Microsoft cannot quite kill the brand without a press cycle.
Times it almost ended
- Microsoft spent years trying to replace it with Teams and Skype for Business. The consumer app became a ghost.
- Zoom and FaceTime ate the call. Skype ate itself.
What would finish it
- Microsoft flipping the off switch. The zombie is waiting for a blog post.
Questions
Is Skype still up?
Yes, with a Hollow verdict: lights on, nobody home. Founded 2003.
How long has Skype been around?
Skype has been up since 2003-08-01.
Why did Skype survive?
The username graph of the 2000s still has grandparents on it.
Could Skype still die?
Microsoft flipping the off switch. The zombie is waiting for a blog post.